title: Subjective impact of traumatic brain injury on long-term outcome at a minimum of 10 years after trauma- first results of a survey on 368 patients from a single academic trauma center in Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may lead to significant impairments in personal, social and professional life. However, knowledge of the influence on long-term outcome after TBI is sparse. We therefore aimed to investigate the subjective effects of TBI on long-term outcome at a minimum of 10 years after trauma in one of the largest study populations in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current investigation represents a retrospective cohort study at a level I trauma center including physical examination or standardized questionnaires of patients with mild, moderate or severe isolated TBI with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. We investigated the subjective physical, psychological and social outcome evaluating the Glasgow Outcome Scale, short-form 12, and social as well as vocational living circumstances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  368 patients aged 0 to 88 years were included. Patients with severe TBI were younger compared to patients with moderate or mild TBI (p < 0.05). Patients with severe TBI lived more often as single after the trauma impact. A significantly worse outcome was associated with higher severity of TBI resulting in an increased incidence of mental disability. A professional decline was analyzed in case of severe TBI resulting in significant loss of salary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The severity of TBI significantly influenced the subjective social and living conditions. Subjective mental and physical outcome as well as professional life depended on the severity of TBI 10 years after the injury.
authors.affiliation: Department for Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen 52074 Germany. handruszkow@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andruszkow
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Urner
authors.forename: Ezin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Probst
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grün
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lohse
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frink
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeckey